Foistware: how software companies push software you don't need

Summary: I keep running into a sleazy trick that some software vendors play, and I’ve finally reached the breaking point. Software companies large and small try to make a quick buck by tricking their customers into installing software they don’t need. I’m experienced enough to bypass this stuff most of the time, but many of my friends and family members aren’t. And guess who gets the call when some add-on or toolbar has slowed their system to a crawl?I call it foistware, and I’ve decided it’s time to name and shame the worst purveyors of this plague.

If you go to Adobe.com to download a copy of the Flash Player, you might get something extra. Using Internet Explorer, you'll be offered this Google toolbar. See how the check box is already selected? That's what makes it foistware. If you accept the default installation options, the unrelated third-party program is installed.

I'm not a big fan of registry cleaners, and I don't recommend this one. But give IZArc credit for presenting this choice to its customers. No option is selected by default, and the installation can't continue until you make a choice. (Hint: Don't Install is the option I recommend.)

I captured this screen shot in September 2010, also using IZArc. Notice that the default option selected here is Do Not Install. If you're going to pre-select an option on behalf of the user, this is the correct approach.

Clicking the Options button opens this dialog box, where you can see that Skype was about to install add-ons to both Internet Explorer and Chrome. These add-ons can cause your browser to crash, can slow down the opening of page, and change the appearance of phone numbers on web pages. Most people don't want or need these things, and yet Skype installs them automatically.

Ask.com has had a checkered history, and this sort of installation is one reason why. If you accept the default options when you install this program, your home page and search engine will be changed, and you'll get a new toolbar that could slow down your browser or cause it to crash.

The publisher of this otherwise useful program says most people install this recommended "search enhancement." But how can you make an informed choice when you don't even know the name of the add-on, much less who made it or what it does. But if you accept the defaults, you'll find out immediately, because the add-on will be installed for you.

uTorrent is my favorite BitTorrent client, but it's a shame that they have to partner with Microsoft on this bit of foistware. All three options are selected here, which means not only do you get a new toolbar, you also get your home page and default search engine replaced unless you manually clear those check boxes.

The Foxit PDF reader is a popular alternative to Adobe's Reader. But this installation dialog box is particularly confusing in the way it tries to install the Ask toolbar. A nontechnical user might think that clicking Decline means that the program installation stops. And of course it wants to change the home page and search engines.

Ed Bott is an award-winning technology writer with more than two decades' experience writing for mainstream media outlets and online publications. He has served as editor of the U.S. edition of PC Computing and managing editor of PC World; both publications had monthly paid circulation in excess of 1 million during his tenure. He is the a...
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Ed Bott is a freelance technical journalist and book author. All work that Ed does is on a contractual basis.Since 1994, Ed has written more than 25 books about Microsoft Windows and Office. Along with various co-authors, Ed is completely responsible for the content of the books he writes. As a key part of his contractual relationship with publishers, he gives them permission to print and distribute the content he writes and to pay him a royalty based on the actual sales of those books. Ed's books have been distributed under several imprints: Que Publishing (a division of Pearson Education); Microsoft Press (with production and distribution by O'Reilly), and Fair Trade Digital Exchange, where he was briefly a partner. On occasion, Ed accepts consulting assignments. In recent years, he has worked as an expert witness in cases where his experience and knowledge of Microsoft and Microsoft Windows have been useful. In each such case, his compensation is on an hourly basis, and he is hired as a witness, not an advocate. Ed sometimes receive fees and/or travel expenses for live speeches and webinars from companies and organizations. Acceptance of these fees does not constitute an endorsement of the company's products. Ed does not own stock or have any other financial interest in Microsoft or any other software company. He owns 500 shares of stock in EMC Corporation, which was purchased before the company's acquisition of VMware. In addition, he owns 350 shares of stock in Intel Corporation, purchased more than seven years ago. All stocks are held in retirement accounts for long-term growth. Ed does not accept gifts from companies he covers. All hardware products he writes about are purchased with his own funds or are review units covered under formal loan agreements and are returned after the review is complete.